PHILADELPHIA — The heat that blanketed much of the U.S. and killed as many as 60 people over the last two weeks began to ease up from unbearable to merely very hot Sunday as temperatures from the Midwest to the East Coast dropped from highs above 38 degrees Celsius down to the low to mid 30s.

Meanwhile, balmy temperatures are set to hit western Canada. Forecasts for Tuesday from Environment Canada show temperatures in Edmonton reaching 32 degrees and in Calgary 30 degrees. In Saskatchewan, Regina is set to see a high of 34 and Saskatoon a high of 33.

Winnipeg could see a high of 31.

Cooler air swept southward in the eastern half of the U.S., bringing down some temperatures by 15 or more degrees from Saturday’s highs, which topped 38 C in cities including Philadelphia, Washington, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Louisville, Kentucky.

For many areas, the cooler temperatures were ushered in by thunderstorms that knocked out power to thousands. In New Jersey, a line of strong, fast-moving storms knocked out power to nearly 70,000 on Saturday night.

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The heat of the past several days has also been blamed for at least 45 deaths across the country. In Chicago, the county medical examiner’s office determined Sunday that eight more people died from heat-related causes, adding to the 10 deaths previously confirmed Saturday. The deaths included a 100-year-old woman, 65-year-old woman, a 53-year-old man, a 46-year-old woman and an unidentified man believed to be about 30 years old.

A 4-month-old girl died and a 16-month-old girl was hospitalized in suburban Indianapolis after both were found trapped in cars during 40.5-degree C heat Saturday. Deaths have also been reported by authorities in Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

The heat caused highways to buckle in Illinois and Wisconsin, officials said. In Maryland, investigators said heat likely caused rails to kink and led a commuter train to partially derail Friday. No one was injured.

Andrew Burton / Reuters A man looks around as he stands at the side of the pool at the Hamilton Fish Recreation Center, in the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York on July 7, 2012.

To stay cool, Americans tried familiar solutions — dipping into the pool, going to the movies and riding subways just to be in air conditioning.

Even the beach offered no respite. Atlantic City, New Jersey, home of the famed boardwalk, set a temperature record Saturday of 38 degrees C.

If Americans ventured outside to do anything, they did it early. But even then, the heat was stifling.

“It was baking on the 18th green,” said golfer Zeb Rogerson, who teed off at 6 a.m. at an Alexandria, Virginia, golf course but was sweltering by the end of his round.

In South Bend, Indiana, serious kayakers took to the East Race Waterway, a 579-meter-long manmade whitewater course near downtown.

“A lot of times I’ll roll over just to cool off,” said Robert Henry of Carmel, just north of Indianapolis. “The biggest challenge is walking coming back up carrying a kayak three-eighths of a mile in this heat.”

In Manhattan, customers who stepped in to see “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” at an IFC movie theatre were there for more than entertainment.

“Of course we came to cool off!” said John Villanova, a writer who was on his second sweaty T-shirt of the day and expecting to change again by evening.

He said that earlier, he rode a Manhattan subway back and forth for a half an hour, with no destination in mind “because it really keeps you cool.”

In Chicago, street magician Jeremy Pitt-Payne said he has been working throughout the three-day stretch of triple-digit Farenheit temperatures, but acknowledged that he might doff the Union Jack leather vest by the end of the day, even though it’s part of his British magician character along with the black top hat.

His trick for beating the heat? He starts his shows at 2 p.m., “when the Trump Tower is gracious enough to block out the sun” along his stretch of sidewalk.

]]>http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/07/09/u-s-heat-wave-that-killed-60-people-is-easing-up-but-only-a-little/feed/2stdStella Charmpa and Andrew Pimlott sit in the hot weather on the grass in Central Park in New York on July 5, 2012. Sweltering temperatures in the region are expected to dip, but only slightly.A man looks around as he stands at the side of the pool at the Hamilton Fish Recreation Center, in the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York on July 7, 2012. Toronto issues heat alert as temperatures today set to reach 32 degreeshttp://news.nationalpost.com/2012/06/28/toronto-issues-heat-alert-as-temperatures-today-set-to-reach-32-degrees/
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/06/28/toronto-issues-heat-alert-as-temperatures-today-set-to-reach-32-degrees/#commentsThu, 28 Jun 2012 14:04:56 +0000http://news.nationalpost.com/?p=188793

Although it won’t break any records, Toronto’s soaring temperatures have caused the city to issue another heat alert less than a week after the official start of summer.

With Environment Canada forecasting a daily high of 32C and a humidex of 38C, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. David McKeown issued the city’s second heat alert in as many weeks.

The hot and humid weather will continue into the Canada Day weekend with temperatures in the mid to low 30s, with humidity making it feel like 40C.

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Toronto’s first heat alert was issued last week when temperatures soared into the mid 30s, with humidity making it feel like 40C. The city issued the previous heat alert on June 19 and later upgraded it to an extreme heat alert, where of death is higher.

A heat wave is classified as three consecutive days of temperatures of 32C or higher.

The current heat alert will be in effect until further notice.

Dr. McKeown is advising residents to beat the heat by drinking plenty of water, remaining in the shade or air conditioned environments, and scheduling outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day.

He has also urged people to check up on friends and relatives, especially children and seniors.

The city has advised seniors, children, and people with heart and lung conditions to pay attention to Air Quality Health Index levels and forecasts.

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]]>http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/06/28/toronto-issues-heat-alert-as-temperatures-today-set-to-reach-32-degrees/feed/4stdChildren cool down in the fountains of Toronto's Yonge Dundas Square. Although it won’t break any records, Toronto’s soaring temperatures have caused the city to issue another heat alert less than a week after the official start of summer.How hot is it? Extreme, says Toronto Public Healthhttp://news.nationalpost.com/2011/07/20/how-hot-is-it-extreme-says-toronto-public-health/
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/07/20/how-hot-is-it-extreme-says-toronto-public-health/#commentsWed, 20 Jul 2011 14:09:22 +0000http://news.nationalpost.com/?p=79812

A network of seven emergency “cooling centres” have opened their doors following an “extreme heat alert” issued Wednesday morning by Toronto Public Health.

Extreme heat alerts are issued whenever health officials expect the likelihood of a “high level of mortality” to be at least 50% greater than what would be expected on a typical day.

Toronto temperatures are expected to soar as high as 32 degrees. With humidity, the temperature will appear to be in the mid-40s — about the same as the daytime temperature in Dubai, U.A.E.

“The public is encouraged to call or visit family, friends and neighbours, especially isolated adults and seniors who are at greater risk of suffering from heat-related illness, to make sure they are cool and drinking plenty of fluids,” reads a release by Toronto Public Health.

In addition, health officials will be roaming the city to inspect rooming houses, boarding homes and other “residential premises of concern” to ensure windows are open, stoves are off and fans are on.

A heat wave currently hitting the United States is estimated to have killed 13 people over the weekend.

The folks at the Fair Fare Coalition picked a good day Wednesday to appeal for free transit on smog and heat alert days in Toronto.

Claiming that such a move will “save lives,” advocates called on the TTC to take a step towards making transit more accessible during dangerously hot days, especially for seniors, people living with chronic illnesses and substandard housing.

“Without financial means to travel, many people will have no way to escape the heat and smog,” the group says.

TTC chairwoman Karen Stintz said offering free rides would cost the TTC $3-million a day. “Not that we want to discourage you from pursuing and advocating on behalf of your memberships, which I believe is a true need for those you represent, we really have some challenges meeting that need in this environment,” she told the group.

Ms. Stintz noted that the TTC has typically relied on corporate sponsors to offer free transit on New Year’s Day, and is currently shopping around for a new partner.